Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for promoting bilateral relations between Tehran and Islamabad in all areas, in line with the interests of the two neighbors.

Speaking at a meeting with visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif in Tehran on Monday, President Rouhani hailed growing collaborations between Iran and Pakistan, saying that, as major regional players, the two countries have “friendly and brotherly” ties, Tasnim News Agency reported.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to promote its economic, cultural and political relations with Pakistan, he said.

The president also underlined the necessity for closer cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in countering terrorism, and joint efforts to boost security along the two countries’ borders.

“Promoting the security of the borders and turning them into economic and trade areas, and creating border markets, would be in the interest of the two nations and in line with regional stability and security,” Rouhani added.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to cooperate with the regional countries, including Pakistan, in a campaign against terrorism and development of peace, stability and security in the region,” he pointed out.

The president said that the problems in the region, including Afghanistan, can be solved through regional solutions and not by the trans-regional powers.

Asif praised cooperation between the two countries as positive and said his country is ready to cement ties with Iran in all areas, in line with the two sides’ common interests.

He said that regional issues cannot be settled through military action. “Resolving the regional countries’ problems needs regional solutions, especially with Iran’s partnership, and measures by the powers outside the region is not helpful.”

Asif arrived in Tehran on Monday for a one-day visit, at the head of a political and economic delegation, for talks with Iranian officials.

Earlier in the day, he discussed bilateral ties and the latest regional and international developments with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

The Pakistani foreign minister is on a four-nation tour of China, Iran, Turkey and Russia. He has already traveled to China, and plans to visit Turkey next, before winding down his trip in Russia.